This is my dream.

More and more commonly, people are putting up walls between themselves and others. They wear more and more makeup to hide their true identity. No more difference, no more trouble. Our culture has encouraged them to hide themselves and conform to the normal.

But conformity creates an unrealistic ideal of perfection. Conformity causes girls to give themselves up to anorexia. Conformity reduces people to turn to cutting and self-harm. Conformity drives us to bully the less fortunate. Conformity creates social hierarchy. Conformity finally pushes some to commit suicide. Is this truly what we want? Some are hurting, others lonely and depressed, hiding behind walls of lies. Why are we scared to be ourselves and show our own personality? Don’t be ashamed of who you are!

My wish is that differences would be encouraged rather than eliminated. I wish beauty wasn’t only skin and bones. I wish personalities were unique. I wish there would be freedom to be yourself. I wish that self-harm wouldn’t be the solution for some. I wish for freedom of speech - that no one would fear expressing themselves. I wish no one would be reduced to silence. I wish there would be no murmur telling teenagers: you’re not beautiful, not smart, not fit, not good enough.

Enough! Prejudice should no longer be given free rein in our society! The chains of conformity must be broken. Everyone has the right to be heard and understood. Even the slightest whisper is important. Young people need to know that there are those out here who care about them and that they are not alone.

I have a dream today! I dream that one day, everyone will have the courage to stand up and declare: I am pretty, I am beautiful, I am proud of who I am and I have the desire to live. I dream that beauty would be more than only skin deep. Finally, I dream that girls will stand up where they are, as they are, for who they are.

This is my dream.